I like to think that I have a solid mental grasp on this whole NBA thing. But we all make mistakes, and with Royce White getting cut by the Sixers, I have to face some demons. Per an optimistic AJ one year ago:

“His anxiety disorder is well-documented; one has to wonder if he would have been a top-10 pick without it. There’s little that the power forward out of Iowa State can’t do, but what stands out is his passing ability: White led his Cyclones team in assists, and is drawing comparisons to an in-shape Boris Diaw for his diverse skill set.”

So, yeah. Feel free to mock. If White couldn’t eke out some PT on the worst team in basketball, that can’t be a good sign.

If you think Royce got cut for a lack of talent, then you think Jason Collins isn’t on an NBA roaster due to homophobia.

Royce White’s talent wasn’t the issue–it was his ego and his mind. He’s a physical specimen and by numerous accounts of several GMs he was a consensus lock Top 10/Top 5 pick sans his “personal issues”.

What Iowa State went thru to get Royce to road games and the travel concessions they made for him was pretty extreme. Their away schedule in college was also—as a non-elite program—a lot less taxing.

But what Royce refused to understand is once you’re in the L, you dont get to tell a team—your employer—which days you’re gonna travel and which days you won’t and when you feel like working and when you don’t.

We’re talking about a dude who refused to go to practice in Houston. Like wouldn’t even show up. at all.

Then you get into his Twitter rants about needing “protocol” and all other nonsense he spewed about the league not doing enough for him when it turned out the Rockets did most everything he wanted.

And we haven’t even gotten to the groupie allegations made against him which seem more and more valid based on screen caps, bank statements, doctor records, etc.

It’s sad because dude had a army of folk online and off ready to #BewWell and #AnxietyWarriors for him. And instead of pushing thru to work and make a legit stand, dude just became a clown…

Ron Artest suffers from manic depression… Brand Marshall suffers from mental illness. Lotsa players do. And most get their treatment, their counseling, their prayer, their team protocols, and they go to work.

But Royce’s not “done”—he’s a 23 year old a 6’7 240lb wing–think Anthony Mason with a better jumpshot or a really poor man’s Scottie Pippen. He’s got a world of talent. But his ego and his attitude suck.

I give him another 3 years to get his crap together off the court. If he’s really serious about being a role model for dealing with mental illness while being a contributing player at a high level, he’ll have 32 NBA squads beating down his door till he’s about 27-28yro.

I dont feel pity for Royce or people like him. You have people, the money for therapy, fans and family support and still cant your shit together. Youre paid millions to play a game that millions of other people only dream of having the same opportunities and you still cant get your shit together? Your lost. Artest is a good example of overcoming demons. This guy should learn from him.

Royce spent more time talking about the NBA not bending to his will than actually doing what the fuck he was supposed to be doing as an employee of the NBA. Hope he doesn’t end up being a homeless nigga with mental problems who couldn’t get help. That wasn’t sarcastic. I’m dead serious. He really had a chance to do something with the opportunity and he fucked it off by being a dickhead.

Could it be that the social anxiety disorder effected his confidence and ultimately his play? At Iowa State he was the man, so the team bent over backwards to accommodate him. In the league he’s that nigga coming 3rd off the bench and holding a roster spot from someone who can board a flight without getting the BA Barrakas treatment. I’m sure getting the side eye from wealthy, young, uber-competetive dudes who probably see being scared to fly as a weakness has to wear on you on the court somehow.

I used to in on this guy too. But ya’ll are right, he has an attitude problem. I mean, he showed up to Sixers camp way out of shape. Everyone was like “we’ll need to play him and he’ll need to get back in shape through the games”. That’s obviously not a good place to start when trying to make the roster. Why on earth was he out of shape? He hasn’t been injured or anything. He simply thought he could play himself into shape through training camp, and still make the team. That is arrogant, and lazy…all anxiety issues aside.

He has a great game though, but no longer do I think he has a great personality. He is a smart kid, likes good music and is a philosophical thinker. And yet his cult following has disappeared, we see the truth now…